1
HESI PN Exit Exam V3
(2025) - 110 Questions with
Verified Rationale Answers
Section 1: Fundamentals of Nursing (Questions 1–25)
Question 1 (Multiple Choice)
A client with a new colostomy is being taught how to care for the stoma. What should the nurse
emphasize?
A. Change the pouch every 12 hours.
B. Clean the stoma with mild soap and water.
C. Apply petroleum jelly to the stoma daily.
D. Irrigate the stoma with saline twice daily.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cleaning the stoma with mild soap and water prevents infection and maintains skin
integrity. Changing the pouch every 12 hours (A) is too frequent, petroleum jelly (C) can
interfere with pouch adhesion, and irrigation (D) is not routine for colostomies.
Question 2 (Multiple Choice)
The nurse is assisting a client with ambulation after surgery. The client becomes dizzy and
begins to fall. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Call for help immediately.
B. Lower the client gently to the floor.
C. Push the client back onto the bed.
D. Hold the client upright until help arrives.
Answer: B
Rationale: Lowering the client gently to the floor prevents injury during a fall. Calling for help
(A) is secondary, pushing back to the bed (C) risks injury, and holding upright (D) may cause
further instability.
, 2
Question 3 (Select All That Apply - NGN)
The nurse is preparing a client for discharge with a new diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Which
teaching points should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Check blood glucose levels before meals.
B. Administer insulin as prescribed.
C. Increase carbohydrate intake during exercise.
D. Report signs of hypoglycemia to the provider.
E. Avoid regular physical activity to prevent hypoglycemia.
Answers: A, B, D
Rationale: Checking glucose levels (A), administering insulin (B), and reporting hypoglycemia
(D) are essential for diabetes management. Increasing carbohydrates (C) is not routine unless
hypoglycemia occurs, and avoiding exercise (E) is incorrect as it promotes glycemic control.
Question 4 (Multiple Choice)
A client is receiving oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. The nurse notes cyanosis and a
respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min. What is the first action?
A. Increase oxygen to 4 L/min.
B. Assess the client’s airway and oxygen delivery system.
C. Administer a bronchodilator as prescribed.
D. Notify the provider immediately.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cyanosis and tachypnea suggest inadequate oxygenation. Assessing the airway and
delivery system (B) ensures proper oxygen administration. Increasing oxygen (A) requires an
order, bronchodilators (C) are not indicated without assessment, and notifying the provider (D) is
secondary.
Question 5 (Cloze/Drop-Down - NGN)
A client with a pressure ulcer is at risk for [Select: complication]. The nurse should implement
interventions like repositioning every 2 hours.
Options:
• Infection
• Pneumonia
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Urinary retention
, 3
Answer: Infection
Rationale: Pressure ulcers are prone to infection due to broken skin. Repositioning prevents
further tissue damage and promotes healing. Pneumonia (B),26), DVT (C), and urinary retention
(D) are unrelated to pressure ulcers.
Question 6 (Multiple Choice)
The nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric tube. Which action ensures proper tube
placement?
A. Inject air and listen for a whooshing sound.
B. Aspirate gastric contents and check pH.
C. Observe for bubbling in the drainage bag.
D. Measure the tube length externally.
Answer: B
Rationale: Aspirating gastric contents and checking pH (B) confirms NG tube placement in the
stomach (pH 1–5). Injecting air (A) is unreliable, bubbling (C) indicates suction but not
placement, and measuring length (D) is not a standard verification method.
Question 7 (Multiple Choice)
A client with a urinary catheter reports discomfort. The nurse notes the bag is empty after 6
hours. What is the first action?
A. Irrigate the catheter with sterile saline.
B. Check for kinks or obstructions in the tubing.
C. Remove and reinsert the catheter.
D. Encourage increased fluid intake.
Answer: B
Rationale: Checking for kinks or obstructions (B) is the first step to restore urine flow. Irrigation
(A) or reinsertion (C) is invasive and requires orders, and fluids (D) don’t address blockages.
Question 8 (Drag-and-Drop - NGN)
The nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. Place the steps in the correct order:
A. Cleanse the wound with sterile saline.
B. Open the sterile dressing pack.
C. Apply sterile gloves.
D. Place the new dressing over the wound.
, 4
Answer: B, C, A, D
Rationale: Open the pack (B) first, apply sterile gloves (C), cleanse the wound (A), and place
the dressing (D) to maintain sterility and promote healing.
Question 9 (Multiple Choice)
The nurse is teaching a client about preventing falls at home. Which recommendation is most
effective?
A. Install bright lighting in all rooms.
B. Remove loose rugs and clutter from walkways.
C. Wear socks to prevent slipping on floors.
D. Use a cane only when feeling unsteady.
Answer: B
Rationale: Removing loose rugs and clutter (B) eliminates tripping hazards, a primary cause of
falls. Bright lighting (A) helps but is less critical, socks (C) increase slip risk, and cane use (D)
should be consistent if prescribed.
Question 10 (Multiple Choice)
A client is prescribed a low-sodium diet for hypertension. Which food should the nurse advise
the client to avoid?
A. Fresh apples.
B. Canned soup.
C. Grilled chicken breast.
D. Steamed broccoli.
Answer: B
Rationale: Canned soup (B) is high in sodium, which can exacerbate hypertension. Apples (A),
chicken (C), and broccoli (D) are low-sodium choices.
Question 11 (Matrix Grid - NGN)
The nurse is assessing a client for risk of infection post-surgery. Indicate whether each factor
increases or does not increase the risk:
Factor Increases Risk Does Not Increase Risk
Diabetes mellitus X
Adequate hydration X
HESI PN Exit Exam V3
(2025) - 110 Questions with
Verified Rationale Answers
Section 1: Fundamentals of Nursing (Questions 1–25)
Question 1 (Multiple Choice)
A client with a new colostomy is being taught how to care for the stoma. What should the nurse
emphasize?
A. Change the pouch every 12 hours.
B. Clean the stoma with mild soap and water.
C. Apply petroleum jelly to the stoma daily.
D. Irrigate the stoma with saline twice daily.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cleaning the stoma with mild soap and water prevents infection and maintains skin
integrity. Changing the pouch every 12 hours (A) is too frequent, petroleum jelly (C) can
interfere with pouch adhesion, and irrigation (D) is not routine for colostomies.
Question 2 (Multiple Choice)
The nurse is assisting a client with ambulation after surgery. The client becomes dizzy and
begins to fall. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Call for help immediately.
B. Lower the client gently to the floor.
C. Push the client back onto the bed.
D. Hold the client upright until help arrives.
Answer: B
Rationale: Lowering the client gently to the floor prevents injury during a fall. Calling for help
(A) is secondary, pushing back to the bed (C) risks injury, and holding upright (D) may cause
further instability.
, 2
Question 3 (Select All That Apply - NGN)
The nurse is preparing a client for discharge with a new diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Which
teaching points should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Check blood glucose levels before meals.
B. Administer insulin as prescribed.
C. Increase carbohydrate intake during exercise.
D. Report signs of hypoglycemia to the provider.
E. Avoid regular physical activity to prevent hypoglycemia.
Answers: A, B, D
Rationale: Checking glucose levels (A), administering insulin (B), and reporting hypoglycemia
(D) are essential for diabetes management. Increasing carbohydrates (C) is not routine unless
hypoglycemia occurs, and avoiding exercise (E) is incorrect as it promotes glycemic control.
Question 4 (Multiple Choice)
A client is receiving oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. The nurse notes cyanosis and a
respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min. What is the first action?
A. Increase oxygen to 4 L/min.
B. Assess the client’s airway and oxygen delivery system.
C. Administer a bronchodilator as prescribed.
D. Notify the provider immediately.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cyanosis and tachypnea suggest inadequate oxygenation. Assessing the airway and
delivery system (B) ensures proper oxygen administration. Increasing oxygen (A) requires an
order, bronchodilators (C) are not indicated without assessment, and notifying the provider (D) is
secondary.
Question 5 (Cloze/Drop-Down - NGN)
A client with a pressure ulcer is at risk for [Select: complication]. The nurse should implement
interventions like repositioning every 2 hours.
Options:
• Infection
• Pneumonia
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Urinary retention
, 3
Answer: Infection
Rationale: Pressure ulcers are prone to infection due to broken skin. Repositioning prevents
further tissue damage and promotes healing. Pneumonia (B),26), DVT (C), and urinary retention
(D) are unrelated to pressure ulcers.
Question 6 (Multiple Choice)
The nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric tube. Which action ensures proper tube
placement?
A. Inject air and listen for a whooshing sound.
B. Aspirate gastric contents and check pH.
C. Observe for bubbling in the drainage bag.
D. Measure the tube length externally.
Answer: B
Rationale: Aspirating gastric contents and checking pH (B) confirms NG tube placement in the
stomach (pH 1–5). Injecting air (A) is unreliable, bubbling (C) indicates suction but not
placement, and measuring length (D) is not a standard verification method.
Question 7 (Multiple Choice)
A client with a urinary catheter reports discomfort. The nurse notes the bag is empty after 6
hours. What is the first action?
A. Irrigate the catheter with sterile saline.
B. Check for kinks or obstructions in the tubing.
C. Remove and reinsert the catheter.
D. Encourage increased fluid intake.
Answer: B
Rationale: Checking for kinks or obstructions (B) is the first step to restore urine flow. Irrigation
(A) or reinsertion (C) is invasive and requires orders, and fluids (D) don’t address blockages.
Question 8 (Drag-and-Drop - NGN)
The nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. Place the steps in the correct order:
A. Cleanse the wound with sterile saline.
B. Open the sterile dressing pack.
C. Apply sterile gloves.
D. Place the new dressing over the wound.
, 4
Answer: B, C, A, D
Rationale: Open the pack (B) first, apply sterile gloves (C), cleanse the wound (A), and place
the dressing (D) to maintain sterility and promote healing.
Question 9 (Multiple Choice)
The nurse is teaching a client about preventing falls at home. Which recommendation is most
effective?
A. Install bright lighting in all rooms.
B. Remove loose rugs and clutter from walkways.
C. Wear socks to prevent slipping on floors.
D. Use a cane only when feeling unsteady.
Answer: B
Rationale: Removing loose rugs and clutter (B) eliminates tripping hazards, a primary cause of
falls. Bright lighting (A) helps but is less critical, socks (C) increase slip risk, and cane use (D)
should be consistent if prescribed.
Question 10 (Multiple Choice)
A client is prescribed a low-sodium diet for hypertension. Which food should the nurse advise
the client to avoid?
A. Fresh apples.
B. Canned soup.
C. Grilled chicken breast.
D. Steamed broccoli.
Answer: B
Rationale: Canned soup (B) is high in sodium, which can exacerbate hypertension. Apples (A),
chicken (C), and broccoli (D) are low-sodium choices.
Question 11 (Matrix Grid - NGN)
The nurse is assessing a client for risk of infection post-surgery. Indicate whether each factor
increases or does not increase the risk:
Factor Increases Risk Does Not Increase Risk
Diabetes mellitus X
Adequate hydration X
